Tailored Chemical Surface Modifications of Different Types of Thermoplastic Materials for Microfluidic Applications

Abstract

The high temperature of the melt during thermoplastic processing is utilized for the surface modification of thermoplastic parts. The approach is demonstrated for polycarbonate as a reactive polymer and polystyrene as a non-reactive polymer. In case of polycarbonate, a polyamine is coupled to the polymer surface by chemical reaction. Functionalized latex beads are used for polystyrene, which are attached to the polymer surface by interdiffusion. Both surfaces adsorb selectively anionic or cationic dyes, respectively. The dyes are used as model compounds to demonstrate the potential of the surface modification approach for the fabrication of microfluidic parts. Those parts may be used for purification, accumulation, and reaction processes.